Scottish Executive

Scottish Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the planned 40% reduction from 2003-04 to 2004-05 in the allocation of funding for clusters development in the Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley Draft Outline 3 Year Business Plan 2004-2007 .

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the planned 17% reduction from 2003-04 to 2004-05 in the allocation of funding for biotechnology development in the Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley Draft Outline 3 Year Business Plan 2004-2007 .

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the planned 68% reduction from 2003-04 to 2004-05 in the allocation of funding for tourism development in the Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley Draft Outline 3 Year Business Plan 2004-2007 .

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the planned 12% increase from 2003-04 to 2006-07 in the allocation of funding for management and administration in the Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley Draft Outline 3 Year Business Plan 2004-2007 .

Mr Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

Student Loans

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive at what salary threshold a student is required to repay his or her graduate endowment and what the rate of repayment is for any further salary thresholds above that threshold.

Mr Jim Wallace: There is no income threshold for paying the graduate endowment although all liable graduates can meet their liability by adding the amount to their student loan account. The loan will be paid back on an income contingent basis through the Student Loans Company under the same terms and conditions as loans to cover living costs. The current income threshold for the repayment of student loans is £10,000 and the rate of repayment is 9% of the income above the threshold.